diff --git a/src/apps/drama/models.py b/src/apps/drama/models.py
index 3631ea9..d50b812 100644
--- a/src/apps/drama/models.py
+++ b/src/apps/drama/models.py
@@ -76,7 +76,11 @@ class GameEvent(models.Model):
         if self.verb == self.SLOT_RELEASED:
             return f"releases slot {d.get('slot_number', '?')}"
         if self.verb == self.ROOM_CREATED:
-            return "opens this room"
+            # First scroll log on a fresh room — system-authored greeting
+            # (actor=None upstream). Format intentionally drops the actor
+            # prefix the rest of the verbs use; the room's title is what
+            # the welcome line celebrates.
+            return f"Welcome to {self.room.name}!"
         if self.verb == self.INVITE_SENT:
             return "sends an invitation"
         if self.verb == self.ROLE_SELECT_STARTED:
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py
index 5059ec4..5af5660 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py
@@ -41,6 +41,29 @@ class RoomCreationViewTest(TestCase):
         response = self.client.get(reverse("epic:create_room"))
         self.assertRedirects(response, "/gameboard/")
 
+    def test_create_room_records_welcome_event_with_no_actor(self):
+        """First scroll log on a fresh room is a system-authored welcome —
+        not a user action, so actor=None. The visible greeting is the
+        ROOM_CREATED event's `to_prose` ("Welcome to <name>!")."""
+        self.client.post(
+            reverse("epic:create_room"),
+            data={"name": "Welcoming Room"},
+        )
+        room = Room.objects.get(owner=self.user)
+        event = room.events.first()
+        self.assertIsNotNone(event, "no ROOM_CREATED event recorded")
+        self.assertEqual(event.verb, GameEvent.ROOM_CREATED)
+        self.assertIsNone(event.actor, "welcome line must be system-authored")
+
+    def test_create_room_welcome_event_renders_welcome_prose(self):
+        self.client.post(
+            reverse("epic:create_room"),
+            data={"name": "Greenroom"},
+        )
+        room = Room.objects.get(owner=self.user)
+        event = room.events.first()
+        self.assertEqual(event.to_prose(), "Welcome to Greenroom!")
+
 
 class MyGamesContextTest(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/views.py b/src/apps/epic/views.py
index b62a1c6..652b2d4 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/views.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/views.py
@@ -390,6 +390,10 @@ def create_room(request):
         name = request.POST.get("name", "").strip()
         if name:
             room = Room.objects.create(name=name, owner=request.user)
+            # System-authored welcome (actor=None) — first scroll log
+            # on every room. Renders via GameEvent.to_prose as
+            # "Welcome to <name>!" with no actor prefix.
+            record(room, GameEvent.ROOM_CREATED)
             return redirect("epic:gatekeeper", room_id=room.id)
     return redirect("/gameboard/")
 
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_applet-most-recent-scroll.html b/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_applet-most-recent-scroll.html
index dc6a719..de596cc 100644
--- a/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_applet-most-recent-scroll.html
+++ b/src/templates/apps/billboard/_partials/_applet-most-recent-scroll.html
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
         <section id="id_drama_scroll" class="drama-scroll">
             <a href="{% url 'billboard:scroll' recent_room.id %}" class="most-recent-load-more">Load more….</a>
             {% for event in recent_events %}
-                <div class="drama-event {% if event.actor == viewer %}mine{% else %}theirs{% endif %}">
+                <div class="drama-event {% if event.actor == viewer %}mine{% elif event.actor %}theirs{% else %}system{% endif %}">
                     <span class="drama-event-body{% if event.struck %} struck{% endif %}">
-                        <strong>{{ event.actor|display_name }}</strong>
+                        {% if event.actor %}<strong>{{ event.actor|display_name }}</strong>{% endif %}
                         {{ event.to_prose|safe }}
                     </span>
                     <time class="drama-event-time" datetime="{{ event.timestamp|date:'c' }}">
diff --git a/src/templates/core/_partials/_scroll.html b/src/templates/core/_partials/_scroll.html
index ec4bc03..3e258b6 100644
--- a/src/templates/core/_partials/_scroll.html
+++ b/src/templates/core/_partials/_scroll.html
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 {% load lyric_extras %}
 <section id="id_drama_scroll" class="drama-scroll" data-scroll-position="{{ scroll_position|default:0 }}">
     {% for event in events %}
-        <div class="drama-event {% if event.actor == viewer %}mine{% else %}theirs{% endif %}" data-label="{% if event.struck %}redact{% else %}frame{% endif %}">
+        <div class="drama-event {% if event.actor == viewer %}mine{% elif event.actor %}theirs{% else %}system{% endif %}" data-label="{% if event.struck %}redact{% else %}frame{% endif %}">
             <span class="drama-event-body{% if event.struck %} struck{% endif %}">
-                <strong>{{ event.actor|display_name }}</strong>
+                {% if event.actor %}<strong>{{ event.actor|display_name }}</strong>{% endif %}
                 {{ event.to_prose|safe }}
             </span>
             <time class="drama-event-time" datetime="{{ event.timestamp|date:'c' }}">